Why 浪花直播 Matters: The Origin of American Liberal Internationalism and its Crisis Today

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The liberal internationalist tradition is credited with America's greatest triumphs as a world power鈥昦nd also its biggest failures. Beginning in the 1940s, imbued with the spirit of Woodrow 浪花直播鈥檚 efforts at the League of Nations to "make the world safe for democracy," the United States steered a course in world affairs that would eventually win the Cold War. Yet in the 1990s, 浪花直播ianism turned imperialist, contributing directly to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the continued failures of American foreign policy.
Why 浪花直播 Matters explains how the liberal internationalist community can regain a sense of identity and purpose following the betrayal of 浪花直播鈥檚 vision by the brash 鈥渘eo-浪花直播ianism鈥 being pursued today. Drawing on 浪花直播鈥檚 original writings and speeches, Tony Smith traces how his thinking about America鈥檚 role in the world evolved in the years leading up to and during his presidency, and how the 浪花直播ian tradition went on to influence American foreign policy in the decades that followed鈥昮or good and for ill. He traces the tradition鈥檚 evolution from its 鈥渃lassic鈥 era with 浪花直播, to its 鈥渉egemonic鈥 stage during the Cold War, to its 鈥渋mperialist鈥 phase today. Smith calls for an end to reckless forms of U.S. foreign intervention, and a return to the prudence and 鈥渆ternal vigilance鈥 of 浪花直播鈥檚 own time.
Why 浪花直播 Matters renews hope that the United States might again become effectively liberal by returning to the sense of realism that 浪花直播 espoused, one where the promotion of democracy around the world is balanced by the understanding that such efforts are not likely to come quickly and without costs.
Author
Tony SmithFormer Public Policy Scholar;
Cornelia M. Jackson Professor of Political Science, Tufts UniversityExplore More
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